Pokemon Legends: Z-A is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025, although it isn't a direct successor to 2022's Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. What this new Pokemon game will offer up instead is a continuation of the Legends spin-off series, a new adventure which'll give you a different perspective on the the sixth-generation of games.
That means this upcoming Switch game will take you back to Lumiose City – the central town of Pokemon X&Y's Kalos Region. You'll dive back into this fan-favorite locale from one of the best Pokemon games whilst "an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokemon." We're certainly excited to learn more, but while we wait for more information you can keep reading to find everything we know so far about Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A release window
While the actual Pokemon Legends: Z-A release date is yet to be confirmed by The Pokemon Company we do know that the new game will launch worldwide simultaneously in 2025.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A platforms
Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch on Nintendo Switch in 2025. It's worth noting that The Pokemon Company has used slightly confusing language across its social channels, noting that Z-A is coming to "Nintendo Switch systems". Perhaps that's nothing, given that there are standard, lite, and OLED versions of the Switch, but this phrasing has made some in the community raise an eyebrow given that the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch next year.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer
The first Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer was released on February 27 in celebration of Pokemon Day. The Pokemon Presents stream didn't feature any gameplay, and was instead more of a mood-setter. It hints at the development of Lumiose City, helping to establish the central town of the Kalos Region with some of your favorite Pokemon pals. You can watch the Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer above.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay
While Game Freak has yet to showcase any Pokemon Legends: Z-A gameplay just yet we do have a couple of details. For starters, We know that the game will be set entirely within Lumiose City, and isn't expected to let you explore the wider Kalos Region. That's no doubt going to be a bit of a letdown for some of you Pokemon X and Y fans out there, but it does make sense given the smaller scope of the Pokemon Legends series of titles.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is described as "a new adventure awaits within Lumiose City, where an urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokemon." Still, expect there to be plenty of callbacks to the legendary Gen 6 Pokemon games – a mysterious symbol emerges in the closing seconds of the trailer, teasing the long-awaited return of Mega Evolutions.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A pokedex
Is it too early to start talking about the Pokemon Legends: Z-A Pokedex? Absolutely not, given that there were plenty of your favorite pocket monsters hidden throughout the debut trailer – with Pikachu leading the way, naturally. Given that Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which took us to the Hisui region (a version of the Sinnoh region from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl from the distant past) featured a Pokedex that didn't lineup with the one from Gen 4. Which is all to say, don't expect the Pokemon X and Y Pokedex to be recreated in its entirety for Z-A.
Pokemon Legends Z-A starter leak
There's a rumor doing the rounds that the Pokemon Legends Z-A starters have leaked, although we are unable to independently verify the information – meaning you should treat this with a grain of salt. A supposed Pokemon leaker dropped a cryptic message on Twitter that says "3 5 8." Many community members have deciphered this as meaning the grass, water, and fire starters will be from the third, fifth, and eighth generations of the franchise. Like I said, it's unconfirmed, and hopefully Nintendo will be more forthcoming with details in the coming weeks.
Looking for something to play while you wait for 2025? Why not give one of the best Pokemon games a go.
